Army major, wife accused of abusing adopted children

May 1, 2013
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A New Jersey couple are charged in a 17-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to endanger the welfare of a child, 13 counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of assault, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman. / illustration via Thinkstock

by Andy McNeil, The (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post

by Andy McNeil, The (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- An Army major formerly based at Picatinny Arsenal and his wife are charged with abusing their three adopted children - one of whom died in 2008 - over a five-year span in what authorities called a "cruel 'training' program."

John E. Jackson, 37, and Carolyn Jackson, 35, and are charged in a 17-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to endanger the welfare of a child, 13 counts of endangering the welfare of a child and three counts of assault, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

"Carolyn and John Jackson are charged with unimaginable cruelty to children they were trusted to protect, said Fishman. "The crimes alleged should not happen to any child, anywhere, and it is deeply disturbing that they would happen on a military installation."

The case falls under federal jurisdiction because the crimes were allegedly committed on a military base.

According to the indictment unsealed Tuesday:

From approximately August 2005 until April 23, 2010, John and Carolyn Jackson conspired to engage in a constant course of neglect and cruelty toward three children they fostered and then adopted, one of whom died in May 2008. The couple are not charged in connection with the child's death and the cause of the death is not explained in the indictment. A call to the U.S. Attorney's Office late Tuesday was not immediately returned.

The Jacksons told their three biological children not to report the physical assaults to others, saying that the punishments and disciplinary techniques were justified, as they were "training" the adopted children how to behave.

Beatings, fractures

After John Jackson was informed by a family friend that one of the children had revealed the abuse in the Jackson household, John Jackson reported the breach to Carolyn Jackson, who retaliated against that child with multiple beatings with a belt.

The Jacksons physically assaulted their children with objects, causing two children to sustain fractured bones, for which the Jacksons failed to seek prompt medical attention.

They also withheld proper medical care for their adopted children, withheld sufficient nourishment for two of their children, withheld adequate water from two of their children and at times prohibited them from drinking water.

As another form of punishment, Carolyn and John Jackson forced two of the children to consume food intended to cause them pain and suffering, including red pepper flakes, hot sauce and raw onion. They also caused one child to ingest excessive sodium or sodium-laden substances while being deprived of water, leading to a life-threatening condition.

The U.S. attorney's office says two foster children and the Jacksons' three biological children are in the custody of state child protective services. One of the foster children, referred to by the initials "J.J. #2," in an indictment, died in 2008.

If convicted, Carolyn and John Jackson each face a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the 17 counts with which they are charged. Each count also carries a maximum $250,000 fine.